January 13, 2003 5:40 AM

News Flash: GOP doesn't "get" race issue

Missteps put Bush, GOP on defense over race issue

From our correspondent in the "No, DUH!!!" Department, comes word that Republicans can't seem to keep from shooting themselves in the foot when it comes to race. Gee, d'ya think that nominating race-baiting Mississippi Judge Charles Pickering might have ANYTHING to do with the perception that Republicans are the party of, for, and by White Folk?

Admittedly, Democrats aren't necessarily a whole lot more inclusive, but at least they have made efforts to honestly address issues that resonate with minorities. The GOP is perceived as the party of Big Business because, well, it IS the party of Big Business, and Big Business is generally the private playground of- you guessed it- White Folks.

WASHINGTON -- After years of ardently courting minorities, an embarrassing string of recent missteps is placing the Republican Party uncomfortably at odds with the same constituency it seeks to attract.

The growing breach is creating problems for President Bush, who campaigned on a theme of inclusion and now is forced to contend with claims his party is racially insensitive.

In fast succession, events have conspired to undo much of the work of Bush and the GOP in the past few years, particularly as it pertains to blacks. The result is rapidly souring relations and new questions about the sincerity of the party's efforts.

"President Bush has now made his position on civil rights clear," said Wade Henderson, executive director of the Washington-based Leadership Conference on Civil Rights. "As long as he talks the talk of commitment to equal opportunity, he does not need to walk the walk."

As leader of his party, Bush has tried to set a new course for the GOP, naming blacks and Hispanics to powerful posts within the administration and courting minority voters with funding for faith-based social services and efforts to improve public education.

The Republican Party also has increased its focus on minority voters through efforts that include recruiting more minority candidates for office and targeting blacks and Hispanics with advertising that promotes party policies.

In the 2000 presidential election, Bush drew 35 percent of the Hispanic vote and 9 percent of the black vote. Both are historically Democratic constituencies, and Bush and the party are intent on improving those percentages in 2004.

But the White House has not escaped the enveloping maelstrom of racial strife, following the president's decision earlier this week to renominate Mississippi Judge Charles Pickering to a federal appeals court bench.

"Actions speak louder than words, and when it comes to civil rights, this administration has been talking a good game, but it's consistently ignored the need to move civil rights and racial issues forward," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Clearly, the GOP doesn't "get" it when it comes to race, mostly because the folks who run the party don't have the faintest idea what "inclusive" means. The GOP, historically the plaything of monied White Folk, is loath to change, though the Powers That Be manage to occasionally mouth the words.

"When you start down a track of seeking resignations and playing racial politics, if you're going to do it, be consistent," said J.C. Watts, a former Oklahoma congressman and black GOP leader who stepped down this year from office.

Watts' departure, which followed some acrimony toward party leadership for his lack of ascension in the hierarchy, was another blow to Republicans, because Watts was the last black member of the GOP in Congress.

Despite the party's recent troubles, however, Watts said he remains hopeful that Republicans will develop better policies to match their rhetoric about attracting minorities.

"You don't hear Republicans talking a lot about civil rights," Watts said. "It's not a bad thing to talk about civil rights. I think that is where the real opportunities lie, in the 18- to-44- to 47-year-old America of African descent, with Republicans."

Added Watts, "If diversity is OK for God, it ought to be OK for Republicans."

J.C. Watts was, quite honestly, one of the best things to ever happen to the GOP. Young, articulate, Conservative- and AFRICAN-AMERICAN- he would been the perfect ambassador for Republican efforts to reach out to minorities. Instead, he was kept at arm's length by the Powers That Be, until he finally left. When Republican begin to talk the talk, perhaps they should pay homage to Watts, and then actually ACT on the words they are speaking. Absent that, the GOP will never be taken seriously by minorities, nor will they deserve to be taken seriously.

Frankly, I can't see it happening. The Rich White Folks and GOWBs who run the GOP are too heavily-entrenched and have too much at stake to make room at the table for any one "different". As long as money talks, minorities will continue to walk- straight to the Democratic Party. And Republicans still won't "get it".

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on January 13, 2003 5:40 AM.

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